Botanical name : Ailanthus excelsa Roxb (A. malabarica DC)
Family : Simaroubaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Mahanimba, Deerkhavrinda, Arala, Pootivriksha, Khodakaranja
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Tree of heaven
Hindi : Atu, Arlu, Artu
Malayalam : Matti, Mattippalmaram, Pongalyam.
Distribution – Throughout India, cultivated also growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A large deciduous tree grows up to 30 meters in height, with straight trunk. Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, large, 30-60 cm or more in length; leaflets 8-14 or more pairs, long stalked, ovate or broadly lance shaped from very unequal base, 6-10 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, often curved, long pointed, hairy gland, coarsely toothed and often lobed. Flower clusters droop at leaf bases, shorter than leaves, much branched; flowers many, mostly male and female on different trees, short stalked, greenish-yellow; Fruit a 1-seeded samara, lance shaped, flat, pointed at ends, 5 cm long, 1 cm wide, copper, strongly veined and twisted at the base.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, diarrhea, dysentery, worm infestations, skin diseases, gynecological diseases, fever, and found to be effective in Leukemia.
Useful part : Bark.
CHEMICAL CONTENTS
Plant contain a rich amount of beta sitosterole, vaitexin, 13-18 dehydroglucarabol-15, Ailanthione, and Glucarabol -15. The bark contains several quassinoids including ailanthone derivatives. They exhibit antitumour activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia and are cytotoxic against KB test system.
Dosage – Stem bark -1–3 g (API Vol. III.) Decoction—50–100 ml. (CCRAS.)
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD
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